Revenge

Every Wednesday, we work our way further through the Sermon on the Mount. I have learned so much through Jon, both on Wednesday nights and over coffee every now and again. He is full of wisdom, great questions, and so much encouragement. It's been a blessing to have him in Manhattan pouring into so many college students.

Last Wednesday, the topic was revenge from Matthew 5:38-48. 

"An eye for an eye"

This was part of the law because people tend to escalate retaliation. If you lost an eye, you might take an arm, and instead of an arm in return, they might take your life. The law was created so that people wouldn't do worse to others than what was done to them. {throughout this sermon, Jesus starts with a piece of the law that has become a mere rule to follow, rather than an overflow of a grateful heart. He then tells them what is really expected of them.}

"If anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well"

This is an extreme statement because in that time a tunic would be comparable to an undershirt, whereas a cloak was our coat. It was not unusual for someone's cloak to be someone's blanket as well. By giving their cloak to the one who took his tunic, he is showing his faith in God to provide for him. 

"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles"

This is referring to soldiers. Citizens were legally required to carry a soldiers stuff if he asked him to. They were only required to go one mile though. So by going a second mile on your own free will, you shows selflessness that comes from God in you.

This passage talks about all the unjust things in the world. We should respond with sacrificial love and leave God in control of making things right because he is the only one who makes the unjust just. 

All these things refer to insulting acts done toward you, but not aggressive acts. The is a time to stand up for yourself and others. But in these cases, we deal with the hurt of our pride rather than our well-being. It takes humility to not show other people up, but to let them have even more of our stuff. God calls us to a deliberate response here. We need to be intentionally humble.

I wish my notes on this passage were better. So many good things are said and I don't have time to jot them all down. But I loved studying this. Despite my incomplete notes, I hope that my life reflects what Jesus is teaching here and that the Holy Spirit will call certain things to mind when I'm faced with an opportunity to show that Jesus is The Lord of my heart and not myself. 

Grace and Freedom

It shouldn't surprise me when God answers my prayers, but it blows my mind every time. The creator of all things hears my little, pathetic voice and answers it with so much grace. Time and time again I tell Him how desperate I am for his intervention in my heart and so often it stops there. I chose temporary pleasures over time with Him and all the while I'm asking him to make himself real to me. Jesus is able to quench my thirst for him without me drinking the water he's laid in front of me, but why don't I take advantage of what he's already given? And still, he draws me to himself when I neglect him.

I do so little in this relationship. Even when I think I'm doing good things, I'm still doing nothing in comparison to what Jesus does to be in relationship with me. I often try to enslave myself to the rules again. I rely on my appearances to bring me salvation. If I do this, this, and this God will love me and others will love him too. In reality, I need to accept the gift he's given and see that I was set free to be free, not to be enslaved. I am free to come to him and be forgiven. I am redeemed by the blood of Jesus and I don't have to do anything to earn or maintain my salvation. I am learning to rejoice in that and let that be my measure of satisfaction and not what I do to somehow deserve it.

"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" -Luke 10:20

I am seeing my inability to do anything. I need Jesus to intervene in anything I do if I want it to have eternal significance. He chooses to work through my inability. Currently he has put a few girls in my life, some who want to know about who Jesus is and some who want to be more like him without committing to him. I'm grateful that God has allowed me to know them. I truly enjoy their friendship. Now I need Jesus to intervene in these relationships and make them about Himself. I want to read Scripture with these girls. In and of myself I can't even muster up the courage to ask them if they want to. But with the Holy Spirit at work I believe we will learn more about God together. 

I am just so excited to be known by God, claimed by Him, and used by Him to bring these girls into the same freedom I've been given. I hope to see burdens lifted and hearts healed this year.